Hudson Valley Grocery Shoppers Warned of Measles Exposure

The Orange County Department of Health is advising residents of a confirmed case of measles in the County. People who may have visited Satmar Meats of KJ in Monroe on Thursday between 4:30PM and 8PM may have been exposed to measles.

Additionally, the Rockland County Department of Health is advising that people who may have visited the Rockland Kosher Supermarket on 27 Orchard Street, in Monsey on Christmas between 4:30PM and 7:30PM may have been exposed to measles.

If you are not already immune, there are treatments that can be given up to six days after exposure that could help prevent you from developing measles.

If a person is immune to measles, it is unlikely that he or she would become ill if exposed. A person is considered immune if he or she was born before January 1, 1957, has received two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine or has a lab test confirming immunity. Those individuals who are not immune or not sure if they have been vaccinated are at risk of developing measles. Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis (reddened eyes) and/or runny nose. Symptoms usually appear in 10-12 days after exposure but may begin as early as 7 days or take as long as 21 days.

The Orange County Health Department recommends:

All patrons of Satmar Meats of KJ should monitor for signs and symptoms of measles through 01/10/2019.

If you do become ill, you should seek appropriate medical care immediately:

Notify the local health department where you live about your possible exposure to measles.

Individuals who are not certain if they are immune to measles, or unsure of their MMR vaccination status, should receive an MMR vaccine as soon as possible. You should contact your health care provider or the Orange County Health Department for further guidance.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. Symptoms generally appear in two stages.

In the first stage, which lasts two to four days, the individual may have a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. Eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light while the fever gradually rises each day, often peaking as high as 103° to 105° F. Small bluish white spots surrounded by a reddish area may also appear on the inside of the mouth.

The second stage begins on the third to seventh day and consists of a red blotchy rash lasting five to six days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads downward and outward, reaching the hands and feet. The rash fades in the same order that it appeared, from head to lower extremities. A person can spread measles from 4 days before the onset of rash through 4 days after the rash begins. Although measles is usually considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age.

Common complications from measles include diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia. Measles can cause serious illness requiring hospitalization. Some people will die from complications. Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants. Measles can be more severe in people with weak immune systems.

The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. Children 12 months of age and older and adults are recommended to receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine, given at least 28 days apart, to be optimally protected.